Erik, that's not a bad deal. I found a better deal on a refurbed D7000, about $900 shipped and comes with 1 year Nikon warranty. It does not come with the 18-200 lens, it comes with the kit lens 18-55. I have a call in to them to see if they will upgrade to the 18-200? But I can find the 18-200 VR I lenses for a pretty good deal, so in the end I will have two lenses to start with! Let me know if you want the link to the refurbed one?

That's it right there Greg, it is MORE than I need but then you next statement after I get the D7000 I won't be "wishin'" I stepped up!!!

I should have it by then end of this week or beginning of next week :woot:

I gave my 18-55 to my daughter -- never used it after I bought the 18-200

But then again - it depends on what kind of photography you end up doing and you won't know that until you get into it a bit.

For example -- I only brought the one lens to Maui... rather than bring a whole bag of crap. I know I'll want some length for those "whale" shots etc - but I also like to take flowers or other stuff of interest. Your 18-55 is the same as my 18-200 but the one lens has some telephoto capability.

Here's a indoor quicky snapshot of Rodger and Shannon (Ironworks) playing cards... Obviously there was no attempt to take a "nice" photo here - just grab the camera and snap. My point here is that while the 18-200 "looks" big - it's fine to use indoor close up.



Pic taken at 18mm




http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-18.jpg

So here's the longer lens (same lens 18-200) being put to work....


This is a 241' yacht (Larry Ellisons - out in front of the 500 million dollar island he just bought - Lanai)



This pic was taken at 55mm



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-19.jpg





Taken at 150mm

Mind you now --- I'm also on a boat and we're moving all over the place so the VR was set to Active... otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get this shot - it would have been blurry as all get out. Ditto with the 200mm photo.





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-20.jpg





Taken at 200mm




http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-21.jpg

Another example.....

What I'm trying to show is that the one lens 18-200 can do everything the 18-55 can PLUS. Thus the reason I gave the one away and just carry the 18-200



18mm





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-22.jpg






48mm






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-23.jpg

I get what you are saying Greg, those shots are great! Nice boat Larry has :faint: Wow 500 mil for an island seems like a good deal to me :woot:

As I said before I really like taking pictures but I just have never up'ed my game. So I've been doing some looking here and there. But after looking at some of the pictures I took at Bears game a few weeks ago and then my wife took some of my son at basketball (all of them ok but not what I really wanted) I finally made the dicision to get a nicer camera. Then you show up and show me your great shots and now I'm hooked on getting the d7000. Most of what I will use it for is my kids sports and cars and other sports games I go to (Bears PLS season ticket holder :woot: )

I just made an offer on a D7000 with the 18-200 lens and some extras just over 800 shots taken with it?? He's local so I can go pick it up to make sure it's all good. Now I just hope he likes my offer :unibrow:

Thanks again Greg for all your help and I don't want to forget Ig for his input also. And Thanks to everyone else that put in their .02 :cheers:

Sometimes it might seem like I'm trying to sell something -- when I'm not. I just like people to have an informed opinion on stuff like this because it's important - and NOBODY likes to waste their money!

I'm not a good photographer.... But I like it and take lots of shots. Using that experience is what has led to me to liking certain things and knowing I'm not using other things etc. Like most things we all compromise and we can't get everything we want... but you try to do the best you can with what you have to work with.

If you get the camera and lens combo you're offering on - you're going to be one happy fella! It'll work GREAT for what you just described.

The 200 zoom will get you way closer to the action - and you can hand hold it with the VR on - and with the camera in continuous high -- you can get all the action shots you'll ever want.


Will post in a minute a series of STUPID STUPID STUPID kids at the beach.... and I'll post them because it's the zoom that let me get the shot and it's the continuous mode that let me capture the STUPIDNESS and dangerousness of what happened. This is what I LOVE about this camera combo!!

Okay watch this! I had my phone in one hand dialing 9-1-1... and the camera to my face... and I'm thinking where's these kids parents!?



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-24.jpg


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-25.jpg


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-26.jpg


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-27.jpg


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-28.jpg



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-29.jpg



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-30.jpg



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-31.jpg


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-32.jpg



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-33.jpg



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-34.jpg



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-35.jpg



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...12/file-36.jpg

WOW :wow: we'er they ok?? I've done some stupid stuff in my life but that's crazy!

On a side note, he took my offer :woot: So in the next day or two I will have my d7000 with 18-200 lens I'm sooooo excited :cheers: Oh and it has only 390 shots through it, and lots of extras. And get this he teaches photograph at a local collage! He has a bunch of stuff that he's going to throw into the deal!!!